Business Insight Viruses and Friends After more than 2.5 years of working under a pandemic, after several changes in variants and mutations, after multiple changes in rules and regulations, I think we all know COVID-19 is not going away anywhere. It will stay with us for a long time in many shapes and versions, continuing ups and downs on trend lines and making many of us sick with re-infections. It is disappointing that effectiveness of vaccines dropped to some 50% and it's hopeful that the industry is attempting to catch up with newer vaccines, adjusted to the newer variants. But the truth is the virus will always be ahead of us all because we simply cannot predict where the virus is heading. We are in another surge as I write this, despite the liberation of rules and restrictions. Less people die but many people get seriously sick. Long Covid cases are still around and there is a lot of information coming as new discovery that we thought was exactly the opposite. Do you remember when we wiped all the groceries? Now we know it really did not matter. Instead, what mattered was to open spaces and let fresh air in. Vaccines made the virus less destructive, so that hospitals can function and deliver care for other medical emergency issues. We also got smarter, or didn't we? There are continuing controversies about vacs or anti-vacs, Chinese market or lab, mandatory masks or not, or even whether Covid-19 is real. These points of arguments of the society are not going away either. They will stay with us as long as human nature creates new theories out of nowhere and thousands of people believe in them. Not everyone reads science books or legitimate information. Rather, almost everyone exist is some kind of social media, posting millions of comments practically giving you a headache. presented by Arlington Dermatology So, how do we move on? Certainly, I can't speak for others, but thankfully, employers in healthcare can and will set their rules. These rules might prevent Covid-19 outbreaks, but they also may prevent spreading of flu and other viruses. Setting hygienic rules for a healthcare facility like ours is a matter of resources, which we currently have, and we will make it our priority to protect our employees, visitors, and patients to the best ability we can. We will continue asking patients to wear masks. We all do. All the employees have KN95 professional masks that are required in any of our contacts with patients. If patients come without masks, we kindly ask them to put one on, and we can provide those for all. This is done out of respect for other patients and the staff, who might be immunocompromised. We will continue high level of deep cleaning of the facility. We use only non-toxic but highly effective products to make sure our equipment is always clean and sterilized. We are lucky to be operating from a freshly rehabilitated building and our ventilation system is superb. In addition to that, you will notice soon that we placed supplemental air purifiers, with the most modern technology that captures viruses and bacteria from the air. And finally, we will continue operating efficiently, allowing patients to be placed in the exam rooms fast, with a minimal number of visitors in the waiting room. Nothing that we do and plan to do in the upcoming months will make patients lifes more difficult. It will make it safer and protected. And we hope to have a great summer, fall, and winter, despite Covid-19 surges and trends. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Viruses and Friends After more than 2.5 years of working under a pandemic , after several changes in variants and mutations , after multiple changes in rules and regulations , I think we all know COVID - 19 is not going away anywhere . It will stay with us for a long time in many shapes and versions , continuing ups and downs on trend lines and making many of us sick with re - infections . It is disappointing that effectiveness of vaccines dropped to some 50 % and it's hopeful that the industry is attempting to catch up with newer vaccines , adjusted to the newer variants . But the truth is the virus will always be ahead of us all because we simply cannot predict where the virus is heading . We are in another surge as I write this , despite the liberation of rules and restrictions . Less people die but many people get seriously sick . Long Covid cases are still around and there is a lot of information coming as new discovery that we thought was exactly the opposite . Do you remember when we wiped all the groceries ? Now we know it really did not matter . Instead , what mattered was to open spaces and let fresh air in . Vaccines made the virus less destructive , so that hospitals can function and deliver care for other medical emergency issues . We also got smarter , or didn't we ? There are continuing controversies about vacs or anti - vacs , Chinese market or lab , mandatory masks or not , or even whether Covid - 19 is real . These points of arguments of the society are not going away either . They will stay with us as long as human nature creates new theories out of nowhere and thousands of people believe in them . Not everyone reads science books or legitimate information . Rather , almost everyone exist is some kind of social media , posting millions of comments practically giving you a headache . presented by Arlington Dermatology So , how do we move on ? Certainly , I can't speak for others , but thankfully , employers in healthcare can and will set their rules . These rules might prevent Covid - 19 outbreaks , but they also may prevent spreading of flu and other viruses . Setting hygienic rules for a healthcare facility like ours is a matter of resources , which we currently have , and we will make it our priority to protect our employees , visitors , and patients to the best ability we can . We will continue asking patients to wear masks . We all do . All the employees have KN95 professional masks that are required in any of our contacts with patients . If patients come without masks , we kindly ask them to put one on , and we can provide those for all . This is done out of respect for other patients and the staff , who might be immunocompromised . We will continue high level of deep cleaning of the facility . We use only non - toxic but highly effective products to make sure our equipment is always clean and sterilized . We are lucky to be operating from a freshly rehabilitated building and our ventilation system is superb . In addition to that , you will notice soon that we placed supplemental air purifiers , with the most modern technology that captures viruses and bacteria from the air . And finally , we will continue operating efficiently , allowing patients to be placed in the exam rooms fast , with a minimal number of visitors in the waiting room . Nothing that we do and plan to do in the upcoming months will make patients lifes more difficult . It will make it safer and protected . And we hope to have a great summer , fall , and winter , despite Covid - 19 surges and trends . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net